Copying-pad.



No. 668,!85 Patent-ed Feb. l9, l90l.

E. B. HODGES.

COPYING PAD.

(Application flied May as, 1899.)

'(No Modal.)

/N VE N 70/? Edward R.H0oZ/ as,

m: NORRIS PETERS co PHOTO-LITHKL. WASHINGTON n. c.

ii. NlTiE warns EDWARD R. HODGES, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

COPYIING PAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,185, dated February 19, 1901.

Applicationfiled May 29,1899. Serial No. 718,771. (No model.)

To all. whmn, it may concern:

Be it known thatI, EDWARD R. Houses, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Copying -Pads, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an efficient and durable copying-pad for use in copying writings by the letter-press process.

It consists of an absorbent center secured in a peculiar manner Within a cloth covering, the center itself being also of a peculiar material and having special properties, constituting an improvement over the pad shown in my Patent No. 593,657, of November 16, 1897, all as will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a copyingpad embodying my present invention; Fig. 2, a plan View of the same on a larger scale, the covering being broken away at one corner to show theinterior; Fig. 3, a detail sectional view,at dotted line 3 3, through one edge,on an exaggerated scale, showing how the covering isstitched at such edge; Fig. 4C, a fragmentary edge elevation as seen from the dotted line 4 4 alongside Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a detail sectional View at dotted line 5 5, showing how the cloth cover is secured at the edge through which said dotted line extends; and Fig. 6, a small detail showing the edge of the cloth cover illustrated by Fig. 3 as the same is being brought together for the final stitching, but before said final stitching.

The pad is composed, as above indicated, of a cloth cover A and a central absorbent portion B. The central portion is specially made for my purpose from manila fiber and is in the form of a tough strong cardboard, with the extreme edges treated with awaterproof material. I have discovered by experiment and the use of many substances that a cardboard made from manila fiber, although very dense in its structure, is highly absorbent and has the peculiar quality of retaining moisture tenaciously,besides which it is much stronger and tougher than blotting-paper or any other absorbent material of a suitable character of which I have any knowledge. Copying-pads made of this material will endure much more use and will absorb and retain a greater quantity of water, so that much more copying can be done with a single wetting than those heretofore used.

The covering A is of a thin loosely-woven fabric sewed in the form of a sack and first made with one open end. One end, as shown at e, is preferably formed by the fold of the fabric. Two edges, as shown at e and 9 are formed by first stitching the edges together, then turning the sack, and stitching through again on a line at or inside of the edges turned in, as indicated clearly at s in Figs. 3 and 6. This double stitching makes a smooth interior surface and prevents the edges of the fabric from overlapping and resting upon the interior part of the pad, which if permitted would add to the thickness of the pad around the edges, thus detracting from the efficiency of its use, especially when a number of copies are to be taken at a single time. The other end or edge e is first formed entirely open and the part B is inserted through this open end. Said end is afterward secured at intervals by suitable fastenings, such as the wire binders a. By securing this end only at intervals and leaving a considerable portion of it open it enables the interior to be ventilated and when the pad is being prepared for use to be straightened out properly by hand, so that all the air and water which might otherwise be contained or retained within the sack-like cover are easily and quickly expelled. As will be observed, all the stitching and fastening are below the general level of the operative surface of the pad, so that no piling up of the edges of the pad, interfering with its use, is permitted.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

-1. The combination, in a copying-pad, of an interior absorbent member, and a sacklike cover therefor, said cover being doublestitched along those edges where stitching is employed, one row of stitching being inside of the turned-in edges, thus confining the edges of the fabric which might otherwise rest upon the edges of the interior portion, and provided with one otherwise open edge having fastenings at intervals by which the interior is secured in place Without interfering with ventilation thereof.

2. The combination, in a copying-pad, of an absorbent interior composed of Manila fiber, and a suitable inclosing sack or cover having one end open except for fastenings at intervals between which free access may be had to the interior of the pad.

3. The combination, in a copying-pad, of

an absorbent interior portion, and a sack covering or inclosing the same having the edges stitched turned and double stitched as described, one edge being secured at intervals by wire clips at, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 25th day of May, A. D 1899.

EDWARD R. HODGES.

Witnesses:

OEESTER BRADFORD, JAMES A. WALSH. 

